Product Description

Determined to make it, three sisters promise to help each other in life and love! Working the telephone switchboard as a "hello girl," Hannah Gregory insists on reimbursing the charity of lawyer Lincoln Cole. After a run-in with the law, she's forced to accept his help, but When Love Calls, how will she answer?

Product Information

Publisher's Description

Hannah Gregory is good at many things, but that list doesn't include following rules. So when she is forced to apply for a job as a telephone switchboard operator to support her two sisters, she knows it won't be easy. "Hello Girls" must conduct themselves according to strict--and often bewildering--rules. No talking to the other girls. No chatting with callers. No blowing your nose without first raising your hand. And absolutely no consorting with gentlemen while in training.

Meanwhile, young lawyer Lincoln Cole finds himself in the unfortunate position of having to enforce the bank's eviction of the three Gregory girls from their parents' home. He tries to soften the blow by supporting them in small ways as they settle into another home. But fiery Hannah refuses his overtures and insists on paying back every cent of his charity.

When one of Hannah's friends finds himself on the wrong side of a jail cell, Hannah is forced to look to Lincoln for help. Will it be her chance to return to her dreams of studying law? And could she be falling in love?With historic details that bring to life the exciting first decade of the twentieth century, Lorna Seilstad weaves a charming tale of camaraderie and companionship that blossoms into love. Readers will get lost in this sweet romance and will eagerly look forward to championing each sister's dreams.

Author Bio

A history buff, antique collector, and freelance graphic designer, Lorna Seilstad is the author of Making Waves, A Great Catch, and The Ride of Her Life. A former high school English and journalism teacher, she has won several online writing contests and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Lorna lives in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with her husband. Find out more at www.lornaseilstad.com.

Hannah is the oldest of her three sisters. With her parents dead and no way to keep their home theyre forced out of their home and Hannah must find a job. The lawyer in charge of evicting them feels bad for them and finds himself helping them. Hannah is not happy about that and does not want to trust him but he make it hard not too. Hannah soon takes a job as a Hello Girl thought with her outspoken personality things were sure to get interesting.

What I liked: I liked Hannah a lot. Being the oldest she felt the weight of responsibility for raising and providing for her sisters. She took a job that really did not fit her personality but she was willing to do what it took to keep her family together. Lincoln was just doing his job when he told the Gregory sisters that had to move out of their family home yet he wanted to help them and the banter between him and Hannah was quite enjoyable.

What I did not like: This book was well written and not much to not like.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. I highly recommend this book.

April 1908 Des Moines, Iowa - Hannah Gregory must now take care of her her two younger sisters, Charlotte and Tessa (both in their teens). She has walked away from Drake Law School, and will now try to become a Hello Girl at the Iowa Telephone Company. My own father retired from the phone company, AND he grew up in Iowa, so my interest was certainly piqued, and in fact it was apparently quite interesting to the author as well because she wrote this book after watching a random You Tube video on the subject. Cool, right? There were a plethora of rules involved that you cant imagine today. However, Hannah is a huge rule breaker so she has a very difficult time of it. Face forward to the switchboard at all times, raise your hand to scratch your nose, etc. She is high spirited and takes charge of most situations, and although she prays often and asks for Gods help, she rarely waits for His answer.

Her mother used to tell her, (and I loved this), God made the rule keepers just like He made the rule breakers. Your independent spirt can be a blessing and a curse. And, so can being a rule keeper. Each can be used to Gods glory, and each needs the other. God is perfect in both justice and mercy.

Lincoln Cole is a lawyer and graduate of Drake Law School. He is forced to deliver some bad news to the girls, which puts him in bad standing with Hannah. But, he does everything in his power to help the sisters, and try to convince them he was just the messenger and really is a good guy. I like Lincoln a lot. He is a strong man, and really takes a Godly role of covering these girls, and becoming their protector.

There are many fun characters in this book. It was a real pleasure to read. I did not find anyone crazy annoying and for me, the story develops nicely. There is an unexpected wedding location that gave me a big smile! I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to others.

Included at the end of the book: n/a

I wish there had been a recipe included at the end for the warm apple charlotte smothered in velvety vanilla cream sauce

Book 2: When Love Stirs May 2014

Book 3: Unknown as of this writing

This was eBook was offered as a free download. I am offering my honest opinions for no compensation.

I have quite a few books on my kindle, and too many times I pass over the kindle to read the latest book that I've received. This time I had no book at work on my lunch hour and opted to start a book. My book of choice was "When Love Calls" by Lorna Seilstad.

It's about a young woman who is in the process of being evicted from her homestead with her two younger sisters. Their parents died earlier from influenza, so Hannah drops out of law school to return home to care for her sisters.

The book starts off with Hannah not following the rules set by the grocery owner, and the trouble that ensues. She knows she needs to find work, but it's not until she and her sisters are evicted from their home by a young lawyer that she is forced to provide for her family.

She finds work as a potential Hello Girl, while at the same time meeting back up with the lawyer who was involved in evicting them from their home.

The book in all was quite enjoyable to read. There were little nuances that bothered me, but it wasn't enough to deter me from reading the book. I liked her spunkiness and I liked Lincoln. I kinda wish I had been able to get to know Rosie a little more, but just the little bit I did get to know of her was helpful.

For me, this book was an introduction to a new author for me. I will definitely be reading more books by Lorna in the future.

Independent thinking Hannah Gregory and her sisters lose their parents, and their farm, and she must drop out of law school. To support herself and her sisters she must keep her difficulty following rules under control as she becomes a telephone operator, which at that point in history and at Hannah's work location had ridiculous rules to follow.

Attorney Lincoln Cole feels guilty because he is the one who had to start the eviction of the Gregory girls from their farm. He tries to help but Hannah resists his efforts, being quite put out with him. Eventually she realizes she really does need help and he's willing to offer it.

Arson is blamed on Hannah's close childhood friend, who is also sweet on her. She must use her legal skills and Lincoln assists her to defend the young man. When Hannah overhears something, she doesn't share it, because of the rules at work. But her choice to keep this secret could have been deadly.

Excellent read full of wonderful historical details that really bring the reader right to the capitol building with Hannah and Lincoln. Sweet love story!

I've read and enjoyed several of Lorna Seilstad's books in the Lake Manawa series, so was happy to read this book which begins a new series by her called The Gregory Sisters. The first one is entitled When Love Calls, and is the story of the oldest sister, Hannah, who drops out of college where she is studying law to become a switchboard operator in order to support her two younger sisters after the death of both their parents.

Life can be hard in the early 1900s for those without support, so she is happy to find this job as a "Hello Girl" even with the strict rules. Little does she know that the hardship of losing the home their parents raised them in will cause her to meet a lawyer who does care for justice and the poor.

This book has it all--history, family relationships and a love story, too. A delightful read, and I can't wait for the next book in this series. This book was supplied by the publisher for a review, but these thoughts are all my own.